Kiekko-Espoo continues to prepare for promotion to the league.
In Espoo, it is hoped that the League will open its doors already for the 2024–2025 season. Jaakko Stenroos / AOP
Kiekko-Espoo continues to prepare for promotion to the league for the 2024–2025 season, even though the SM League announced on Thursday that no new teams will be accepted into the league for that season.
– The goal is to apply for a place in October 2023 and play league hockey in Espoo already from the 2024–2025 season, Kiekko-Espoo’s website says.
Kiekko-Espoo has long been openly talking about its goal to submit a league application in October 2023.
– We have had numerous good discussions with the League management and several league clubs for two years now. I think our potential and the added value we would bring to the league is widely recognised. We have systematically built this project and our goal is to play league hockey in Espoo in the fall of 2024, Kiekko-Espoo chairman Amy Rubinstein says the club in the bulletin.
According to Kiekko-Espoo, the League informed the club this week that “promotional applications may not be processed during the coming season”. The press release published by the League on Thursday did not contain the word “necessarily”. It was absolute.
– Of course, we hope that this decision is not final. We want to continue the constructive dialogue with the League so that we can present our case during the coming season. Espoo belongs on the league map and this message will hopefully be transmitted stronger all the time, says Rubinstein.